Toyota announced a recall of around 550,000 vehicles in the Estados Unidos due to faulty second-row seats. The problem affects models Highlander and Highlander Hybrid manufactured between 2021 and 2024. The automaker identified that the reclining mechanisms may not lock completely after adjustments, which increases the risk of injuries in high-speed collisions.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced the recall campaign on March 11, 2026. The fault is in the reclining assemblies of the rear seats. Proprietários will be notified from the beginning of May 2026 to carry out free repairs at authorized dealers.
Details of the identified defect
Toyota confirmed that the second row seat backs may fail to lock into place. Isso occurs due to faulty return springs in reclining mechanisms. In the event of a serious accident, the loose backrest does not provide adequate restraint for the occupants.
The main risk involves major injuries to passengers in the rear seats. The automaker has not recorded any incidents or accidents related to the problem to date. The technical analysis highlighted the need for preventive replacement to eliminate the defect.
Affected models and years
The vehicles involved are exclusively the Highlander and Highlander Hybrid from model years 2021 to 2024. The campaign covers around 420 thousand units of the conventional Highlander and 129 thousand of the Highlander Hybrid. Nem all examples from these years are included, depending on the specific production configuration.
Owners must check the vehicle’s status using the vehicle identification number (VIN). The VIN appears on the lower panel of the windshield, driver’s side, and has 17 digits. Consultas can be done directly on the official Toyota website or on the NHTSA page.
Repair actions and deadlines
Toyota dealers will replace the return springs on reclining assemblies with improved components. The service will be carried out at no cost to the owners of the affected vehicles. Toyota plans to begin repairs immediately upon receipt of the updated parts.
Mail notifications will begin to be sent in early May 2026. The company recommends that owners avoid frequent seat adjustments until the fix. Contato with support from Toyota is available at 1-800-331-4331 for additional information.
How to check if the vehicle is involved
Verification is simple and recommended for all owners of the aforementioned models. Acesse visit toyota.com/recall and enter the vehicle’s VIN. The system informs you if there are open recalls and provides guidance on the next steps.
Another option is to consult the NHTSA portal at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Lá you can search by model, year and VIN. Essas tools help confirm the need for repair and avoid surprises during inspections or future sales.
Recommendations for owners
Toyota advises owners to visually inspect whether the backrest locks correctly after reclining. Caso If in doubt, avoid carrying passengers in the second row until repairs are made. The company reinforces that the repair is preventive and free.
The recall is part of the automaker’s routine safety monitoring actions. Medidas like this aim to maintain occupant protection standards. Proprietários must schedule the service as soon as they receive the official letter.
The recall campaign exclusively covers the Estados Unidos market. Veículos sold in other countries are not mentioned in the current notification. Toyota continues to monitor field data to identify possible expansions.
